THE National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU), in collaboration with other stakeholders, hosted a ‘Tech Day Camp’ at the Centre for Information Technology at the University of Guyana (UG) Turkeyen Campus yesterday.The camp, held in light of ‘International Girls in ICT Day 2015’, marked the third activity for the International Girls in ICT Day 2015, which will be observed this Thursday, April 23rd.

The camp saw 20 female Information Technology (IT) students from St. Joseph High School, Christ Church Secondary and Central High, along with a few representatives from the NFMU. The aim was to develop the girls’ interest in computer programming and logical problem solving.

Initially, the girls were tasked with an exercise to develop critical thinking, which will aid in improving their academic thinking. They were, however, inspired about the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector by receiving direct information on ICT institutions.

The activity was also geared at empowering the students to consider careers in the field of ICT.

Given that the ICT sector worldwide is dominated by males, the NFMU has been planning and executing a number of activities in an effort to ensure that Guyanese women are knowledgeable in the field of ICT.

The Government of Guyana, through initiatives such as E-Government, One Laptop Per Family (OLPF), and computer labs for schools, has been making significant investments in ICT; thereby availing technology to every Guyanese, and building the foundation upon which female citizens can expand their boundaries.

‘International Girls in ICT Day 2015’ is an initiative launched by members of the International Telecommunications Union at its 2010 Plenipotentiary Conference. The idea is to create a global environment that will empower and encourage girls and young women to consider careers in the field of information and communications technology (ICT).

Guyana has, for the past three years, celebrated/observed International Girls in ICT Day. As such, this year the NFMU plans to once again play its part in the celebration by hosting such activities for girls/women.

The other collaborators with the NFMU are the Ministry of Education, the Guyana National Broadcasting Authority (GNBA), the E-Government Unit, the One Laptop Per Family Project, Digicel, Qualfon, GT&T, NT Computec, the Brainstreet Group, Global Technology, the Guyana Society for the Blind, and the University of Guyana.

By Shivanie Sugrim